Wakey Wakey Eggs 'n' Bakey

   Since being out here on the West Coast, I've noticed one major difference culturally in funerary traditions and how death is handled in amongst the people. I have attended many funerals, most of which have been on the East Coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The practice of having a traditional wake is still prevalent there, although I did notice a decline when many of my younger acquaintances passed, albeit only a few funerals were of this modern style replacing the tradition. From my understanding the wake is practiced by people of Irish descent, amongst other, so it makes sense for that to occur in an area where a large portion of the general population are in fact Irish.
   The decline of the wake I would attribute to communication and commercialization affecting the populations more traditional practices. The ease of having a funeral at a newly constructed funeral home has caused the practice of the wake to decrease. Financially the funeral home is becoming less burdening on the family, and provides assurance that the body will be handled with professional care, depending on the funeral package purchased. Competition between evolving funeral homes can be seen as a key factor in the declining costs. Contrary to the popularity of the funeral home, wakes are still held in spite of the ease and access on the East Coast. These wakes require the body to be viewed primarily in the family home of the deceased although sometimes allocated to a close relative or friend's home. Family and friends, and all other who wonder off the street at the site of a crowd, gather and instead of wholly embracing the mournful portion of death they also engage in laughter, take in alcohol and food, and generally celebrate the life of the deceased, almost including the dead in the event as if they were present as a living being. For me this was almost comforting, as not only did it acknowledge the passing of a friend, but also brought to life the people in the room- like looking death in the eye and shaking his hand while smiling.
   Funeral practices on the West Coast seem to have inhereted the "modern" funeral practice. There is limited criticism from me because I understand the full scope of why somebody would do this; moreover, the practice of a wake may not even be a popular event in the past for areas such as British Columbia, as there may be a declining belief in the practice the further that one escape from its country of origin, putting aside local practices that I may not be familiar with.
   I wonder if it is the commercialization of funeral eliminating traditonal practices (not particularily the Irish Wake), or if it is people viewing the modern funeral as a way of escaping death? Are the practices of events such as a wake stunted by the views of the surrounding populations and their popular perceptions?